Complimentary access to an airline lounge is usually reserved for first and business class passengers, meaning there is no premium economy lounge access, or any for economy class people. This makes sense considering the difference in what people pay.
Lounge access for premium economy class passengers is available though. There are a couple of airlines that offer it as standard, which arguably makes their flights the best value of all.
Premium Economy Lounge Access at Japan Airlines
While the oneworld alliance lounge access web page does not mention it, Japan Airlines does offer this to those flying in premium economy. You can see the proof below, which is taken from their premium economy class web page.
ANA Also Offer Lounge Access in Premium Economy
ANA is the other airline offering lounge access in this class as standard. One or the other of the Japanese airlines must have decided to offer it and the other followed suit. Isn’t competition great?
Overall Thoughts
Japanese airlines clearly set the bar high when it comes to their cabin classes. The lounge access, at least in Japan Airlines case, extends across the network. This means in Sydney you would use the Qantas International Business Class lounge as a premium economy customer.
Naturally I have not mentioned that people with high enough status in an airline frequent flyer programme will be able to use the lounge regardless of what class they are travelling. That was not the point of this article, of course, as the point is to say only the Japanese airlines offer lounge access to paid premium economy travellers.
What do you think of this? Have you flown with Japan Airlines or ANA in premium economy and used the lounge? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Featured image via Japan Airlines.
Do Premium Economy passengers flying Singapore Air have access to airport lounge passes ?
I don’t believe so, no.
I’m travelling in Premiium Dreamliner to Darwin this month can I pay for the Quantas lounge? I start my trip in Glasgow Could it be possible as I’m 83
You should have a good flight, as Qantas Premium Economy is excellent. If you purchase Qantas Club Membership, you will get lounge access. The details are here – https://www.qantas.com/ie/en/frequent-flyer/the-qantas-club.html – for one year it is A$410 / £218. That will give you access in London, Darwin and other cities in Australia on your trip, both out and back. Good luck and have a wonderful trip!
If I’m on an ANA operated flight in premium economy with a united flight number will I get lounge access?
I’m not sure, but you would think so as your boarding pass would have the ANA flight number on it. I would give it a try! 🙂
What a superb idea for an original post. JAL already has wide seats with better than average legroom, so this is a very nice plus. A pity Cathay doesn’t offer this, since awards with Alaska miles are quite reasonable.
It’s a very good thing indeed! I was pleasantly surprised when I found out, so now I’m itching to try Japan Airlines even more than I was before. Thanks for the comment!
Used the BA lounge at Boston-Logan with PE ticket.
I think it’s useful at BOS since the flight is in the afternoon and it lets you arrive during the morning hours and settle down before the flight, wasn’t too crowded either.
It was less great at Narita’s Sakura lounge on the way back. Thought there was way too many people and the food lines were pretty long as well. Would rather spend my time in downtown Narita than the lounge since the flight isn’t until 6pm and JAL lets you check your luggage first thing in the morning.
That’s excellent, glad to hear it works network wide. I imagine it’s the same with ANA, but I didn’t research any stories there. I did hear the Narita lounge gets quite busy, which is not too surprising. Home base lounges for the home airline are usually rammed – BA at London Heathrow, Qantas in Sydney – they’re all the same in that regard. Checking luggage anytime on the day is great. Thanks for the comment!